Monday, March 9, 2009

ICC’s Principal Adviser and one of cricket’s most influential administrator, Inderjit Singh Bindra, is convinced the World Cup in 2011 will go ahead in the sub continent, even if all of the matches are played in India.“We won’t jump to that conclusion, but if the situation is bad, India is big enough to stage the competition,” he said.“The IPL has 59 matches spread over eight franchises. The next World Cup has 49 matches,” The Telegraph quoted Bindra, as saying.Bindra also said he was 100 per cent certain that the IPL would go ahead as planned, despite the reservations of some players.I was reading on the internet about the Taliban’s attitude to cricket. They say Muslims should use swords, not bats. They say cricket in Asia is like opium in 19th century China - a tool of imperial powers. It is a very pernicious philosophy,” Bindra said.Bindra believes Pakistan should not start playing at neutral venues.“That is a booby-trap and they will cease to be a Test-playing country. How do youngsters watch and learn the game if Pakistan do not play at home?” he said.

“Give Pakistan a chance to get their act together - and they must ensure presidential-style security. But, ultimately, this is something that cannot be tackled by cricket administrators but by global powers,” Bindra added.To make matters worse, Pakistan’s tour of Bangladesh was postponed last week, after the ICC realised the security plan featured the Bangladesh Rifles, who have just mutinied.